Dodgers: Red Sox Added As Part of MLB’s Sign Stealing Controversy
The cheating scandal that rocked Major League Baseball (and the Dodgers) this offseason continues to expand. Originally, it was the Astros being investigated for using cameras and monitors to steal signs from teams. And now the Rex Sox are now coming under fire for tactics used to steal signs as well.
MLB’s sign-stealing controversy broadens: Sources say the Red Sox used video replay room illegally in 2018. Story with @EvanDrellich. https://t.co/C90yxUH2jS
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 7, 2020
Per reports to The Athletic, the Red Sox have been employing sign-stealing strategies the past couple of seasons that are questionable, to say the least. The system involved relaying stolen signs on a monitor to baserunners, different from the Astros method.
Alex Cora, the manager of the Red Sox, is now at the center of cheating controversies on both World Series teams he has been a part of. Cora was the bench coach during the Astros 2017 World Series against the Dodgers and obviously managed the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series against…the Dodgers again.
Major League Baseball issued the following statement in the wake of the news:
The Commissioner made clear in a September 15, 2017 memorandum to clubs how seriously he would take any future violation of the regulations regarding use of electronic equipment or the inappropriate use of the video replay room. Given these allegations, MLB will commence an investigation into this matter.
The system the Red Sox reportedly used would send signs along to a baserunner who would then relay them to a hitter. The signs were reported to be sent via body language or actions on the basepaths that were discussed prior to the game. A runner stepping with one or two feet on the base is an example of how this information was relayed.
Regardless of how it was done, this is a little bit different from how Houston accomplished this. Boston relayed the message through players on the field whereas the Astros used a camera in centerfield and relayed directly to the hitter by banging on trashcans. Regardless, it’s pretty easy to see how wrong both teams are.
If you can remember back to 2017, the Red Sox were fined for using Apple watches to steal signs. While stealing signs is not illegal in of itself, the act of doing so using electronic means is certainly not allowed in baseball.
NEXT: Former Dodgers Pitcher Alex Wood Discusses Astros Cheating Allegations
Figures with Cora being the manager. Kind of pathetic to have this happen to you twice. Nice guys finish last maybe the Dodgers should’ve been in on some of this
I guess the only pitchers it wouldn’t affect is just guys with nasty enough stuff they couldn’t hit it if they knew it was coming. Last year stras and his pitching coach changed because he was tipping pitches. Something Honeycutt couldn’t figure out! Don’t do you think this breaking news is why the Dodgers lost 4 out of 5 to the Sox alone?
Honeycutt was a joke. The whole world always spotted the tipping before this clown did
So when is the league going to drop the hammer on these teams? It’s almost like the league office just wants to move on, hopping the fans just forget about this cheating.
I suspect that’s exactly what’s going to happen. It was a huge deal in the baseball world for like two weeks and then everyone forgot and they’ll only forget more as time goes on, then when the slap on the wrist happens a year from now, the herd won’t even care
Take titles away period.
If not for cheating by both World Series opponents, the Dodgers win back to back titles. And so many “experts” here say that the front office really doesn’t want to do that…LOL
Wouldn’t have mattered. Those Red Sox fellahs were much better than our fellahs. They did not need to cheat to show us the curb in the WS.
And Houston???
Since it was sooooo obvious Boston could whip up on LA, why did they feel the need to cheat, and take on all the negativety that goes with knowing you cheated and could get caught???
Guess they weren’t as smart as you Raphie
OK, if you’re going to delete replies as innocuous as my last one, I’ll move on to other sites. Adios.
There seems to be no consistency in what gets passed moderation and what doesn’t. I’ve seen nasty comments on here that got through and people complain about their normal baseball posts not coming through
Am I supposed to believe that the Dodgers lost the world series in both 2017 and 2018 because their opponents cheated. 2017 against Houston was close. But 2018 against Boston was a total blowout. If your hitters almost completely fall asleep how do you blame that on sign stealing? Your pitcher is sitting in the dugout. The only thing you can steal are his sunflower seeds. Excuses! At least if you’re going to lose, lose gracefully. Or far better, just win, then you won’t have to make excuses at all.
Did sign stealing inflate Mookie Betts’ stats? Something to consider.
A majority of teams cheat, maybe even our beloved Dodgers. It’s up to teams to change signs. If you do that, there is no way to steal them.
Perhaps a one time Dodger catcher was in on it or tipping, so they QO’d him knowing he’d never accept. Of course he seemed to have lost the ability to catch & throw vs BoSox as well. Suddenly he remembered last season….
Poirot, Quincy & House should be called to investigate!
BlackSox got hammered for the WS thing…if these teams actually did this titles, monies & fines plus loss of draft or even FA signings…if it worked or not doesn’t matter, it’s if they tried to cheat that’s all that mattered. It’s one thing for players on tnr field to try and help the hitter but another thing if it’s using CIA techniques….hey, just water board them all until they confess!
I wish they’d all play a fair game , upsetting to know about this cheating dramas going on and shocking to know how they cheated to win!!! Ughhhh. We’ll see what this year brings ????????????